Based on the monthly precipitation data from 126 precipitation stations during the period of 1956 2005 in Guangdong Province, the spatial characteristics of drought events defined by standardized precipitation index technique were studied using the Empirical Orthogonal Function method. The results indicate that drought episodes occurred in specific regions though the Guangdong Province is relatively humid as a whole. Besides, evident regional differences can be found in the occurrences of drought events. Specifically, drought severity in spring is usually enhancing from the west to the east and from the north to the south parts of Guangdong Province; spatial distribution of occurrences of drought events in autumn however shows adverse patterns when compared to that in spring, i. e. the drought events in autumn are intensifying from the east to the west and from the south to the north parts of the Guangdong Province. Furthermore, slight uneven spatial distribution of drought events can also be identified in the middle parts of the Guangdong Province. The results of this study may be of practical and scientific merits in terms of effective water resources management and also for scientific management of agricultural activities across the Guangdong Province.